Nikolai’s Wolf: Chapter Seven

Not one to deny himself anything he truly desired, Nikolai fully connected to her mentally and issued a commanded. “Shift, little wolf. Let me see what you look like.”

She flowed seamlessly from a wolf into a beautiful redhead. He studied her naked form, surprised to realize his penis was hard. It had been so long since he’d felt real physical desire, it took him a moment to recognize the sensation.

While he luxuriated in the forgotten pleasure of arousal running through his veins, he tried to figure out what it was about her that called to him. He’d seen beautiful women before, ones with better figures. She was a bit too petite for his taste. He liked tall women to complement his own six-four stature. He’d be lucky if this one came to his chest. She had to be five-two, maybe five-three if she stretched herself.

The word “pixie” came to mind.

His gaze followed the slight curve of her stomach to the apex of her thighs. The sight of the red curls there caused his cock to jerk in his pants. How interesting!

As he stared at those curls, he imagined himself parting them with his tongue and tasting her essence. He would bring her to orgasm and then sink his fangs into the rich vein in her inner thigh to feed. To one of his kind, the combination of food and sex formed one of life’s choicest pleasures.

Lost in his fantasy, he didn’t immediately notice her breathing had sped up. Nikolai glanced at her face. Seeing that she was still asleep, he let his gaze wander again. Her breasts caught his attention. Where before they’d been lax in her drug-induced sleep, her nipples were now pointed little beads, proclaiming her arousal. He could smell her desire. It amazed him that she was so attuned to him.

Nikolai closed his mental link with her, stepped away from the bed, and backed himself into a corner of the room. He wanted to determine if it was his thoughts or his presence to which she responded. He looked away and willed his body to cool. He thought of the mundane and kept his gaze off the bed until he was in control again.

As his arousal subsided, he glanced once more at the woman. Her nipples were still peaked, and the curls between her legs glistened as the juice of her arousal dampened them. The beast within him rose, and he lost a good deal of the control he’d just attained.

Unable to resist the temptation, he crossed to the bed and dipped his finger in her honey-dampened nest, being careful not to touch the flesh below. Once his finger was coated in her juice, he brought it to his mouth. The taste of her caused his fangs to explode in his mouth as his beast jerked on its leash. In this instance, retreat was the better part of valor.

Nikolai quickly streamed out of the house and headed home, tightening the leash on his beast as he left. His sense of fair play wouldn’t allow him to take an unconscious woman. Had he stayed any longer, he’d have taken her, right or wrong. It didn’t help knowing that on some level of her consciousness, she’d been aware of his presence and her body had responded, welcoming his. He needed to research what this meant.

*****

Rory took his time returning to the pack, not wanting to face them just yet. Sometimes being their leader was a real pain in the ass. All around him, the sounds of howling, yipping, and growling could be heard as males found and subdued their mates.

He entered the clearing as others began returning from the hunt. First, the unsuccessful males filed in. Then, little by little, the newly mated pairs arrived. He was glad to see some of the troublemaking females had been mated. Those females were cock-teasers. Having so many males to choose from had made them prima donnas, holding out, always waiting to see if someone better was going to come along.

One female, Yana, was a particular thorn in his side. She’d made sure everyone knew she had her sights set on being his mate, as if he’d have her or any other female in this pack that kept throwing herself at him, trying to attract his attention. He hadn’t touched any of them since his father died. He hoped all of them had been claimed. It would be one less headache for him.

As he’d expected, Rory was immediately confronted by the members of the council. The council was made up of three of the older men in the pack. Their job was to advise him and to help enforce pack law. Among them were Graham, the pack’s historian; Bertram, a former alpha of one of the packs his father had taken over who had been allowed to step down, a rarity since his father normally killed them; and Wesley, newest to the council and the most arrogant.

“Where’s Shannon?” Graham demanded.

“What do you plan to do about her? This can’t be tolerated. A female that refuses to do her duty and submit? What if word gets out?” Bertram added.

“The problem’s been dealt with.” Rory hoped his tone told them this discussion was closed.

Wesley was unwise enough to push the issue. “How do we know it’s been sufficiently dealt with? She should be brought before the council. We’ll make sure a suitable punishment is devised. After all, Shannon’s your sister, and you’ve always been protective of her.”

“Are you questioning me?” All the anger and pain he felt burst loose. Rory shifted and attacked. Quicker than a blink, he had Wesley on the ground, his teeth locked down on his throat.

“No, alpha. Forgive me.” Wesley pleaded for his life while the acrid scent of his fear rose.

Having sufficiently made his point, Rory released Wesley and shifted back to his human form. His power swelled until it filled the air around him, and he angrily demanded, “Does anyone else have any more questions?”

People dropped to their knees, assuming a submissive position before him until only he was left standing. No one said a word.

Rory surveyed them all in angry silence. “Then I suggest we turn our attention to formally recognizing the newly mated pairs. Let the ceremony commence.”